Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

Leaving from Kingshouse brings you face to face with the imposing sight of Buachaille Etive Mor, one of Scotland’s most famous Munros.

The mountains name aptly translates to The Great Herdsman of Etive, sitting at the entrance to Glen Etive on the left and the scene of the James Bond film Skyfall, with the historic Glen Coe on the right; the scene of the massacre of Clan MacDonald in 1692.

You’ll make your way towards Altnafeadh close to the foot (and starting point!) of Buachaille Etive Mor, before turning sharply right for the Devil’s Staircase. This zig-zag climb will take you up to the highest point of the West Highland Way at 550m and marked by a cairn, with breathtaking views back to ‘The Buachaille’ and northwards towards the Mamores mountain range.

After your climb up the Devil’s Staircase, the Way thankfully meanders across the moorland before heading down to Kinlochleven. If the 78 miles of trekking you have now undertaken haven’t been enough, you could always brush up on your climbing skills at the National Centre for Ice Climbing – the world’s largest indoor ice climbing wall.